WHAT WE DO

Studies show savings empowers individuals and communities. Across rural Africa, theft is prevalent and banks are practically non-existent. The lack of secure places to store cash increases vulnerability to theft and temptation to spend. This makes it difficult for rural people to save the money they work so hard to earn. Transporting cash over long distances to make payments is dangerous and incurs substantial costs further reducing the amount of money rural people are able to save.

SmartMoney reaches the maximum number of rural customers with a proprietary cloud-based platform designed to work with the minimum technology available in rural communities – a low-cost GSM mobile phone and a SIM card. No smart phones or Internet access are required. Service is available across all local telecom networks. Read more

SmartMoney proudly employs, trains and mobilizes hundreds of rural African team members to promote to their community the benefits of savings and to train them how to use SmartMoney to increase savings and realize other benefits. Read more

CUSTOMER BENEFITS

FARMERS, HOUSEHOLDS & INDIVIDUALS

SmartMoney improves livelihoods for rural farmers, households and individuals by increasing their ability to save money securely and conveniently on their mobile phones. SmartMoney also increases overall savings capacity by allowing rural farmers and households to pay for goods and services at local businesses with their mobile phone, thereby reducing the need to travel with cash to make payments. This substantially reduces transportation costs allowing more money to be allocated to savings.

SMALL BUSINESSES

SmartMoney reduces theft and violence for rural businesses by removing cash from their place of business and replacing it with safer electronic money. SmartMoney also increases profits for rural businesses by allowing them to buy supplies from local wholesalers with their mobile phone, thereby reducing transportation and opportunity costs. SmartMoney further increases profits by driving more foot-traffic to their business and by co-marketing their business to the local community.

LARGE INSTITUTIONS

SmartMoney increases efficiency, employee safety and transparency for large rural institutions such as agriculture companies by enabling them to pay their farmers for crops with electronic money instead of cash. SmartMoney also increases loyalty among farmers and other beneficiaries who appreciate the benefits of using SmartMoney’s electronic money service instead of cash.